Former President Donald Trump ignited a fresh culture-war dispute after sharply criticizing Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime performance, denouncing the show in a series of posts that framed the appearance as an affront to American values rather than a matter of personal taste.
Bad Bunny headlined the halftime show Sunday night at Levi's Stadium, delivering a Spanish-language performance rooted in Puerto Rican imagery and themes of unity. Within minutes of the broadcast, Trump posted on Truth Social: "The Super Bowl Halftime Show is absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER!" He went on to describe the performance as "a slap in the face," adding that "nobody understands a word this guy is saying" and criticizing what he called "disgusting" dancing, "especially for children watching."
The comments quickly spread beyond sports coverage, turning a routine post-game debate over halftime entertainment into a broader argument about language, national identity and cultural representation. Trump's criticism focused less on choreography or production and more on the use of Spanish and the global profile of the artist, themes that have repeatedly surfaced in his political messaging.
Bad Bunny's set, widely described by broadcasters as a tribute to Puerto Rico, included visuals emphasizing unity and cultural pride. One prominently noted message during the performance read: "The only thing more powerful than hate is love," a line many viewers interpreted as a deliberate statement amid a politically charged atmosphere surrounding the event.
The National Football League, which has increasingly positioned its halftime show as a global cultural platform, publicly defended the choice. Commissioner Roger Goodell said Bad Bunny is "one of the great artists in the world," adding that the halftime show is intended to unite audiences and showcase creativity on the league's biggest stage.
Trump allies and conservative activists responded by promoting an alternative event. Turning Point USA organized what it described as an "All-American" halftime show featuring Kid Rock, positioning it as a counterpoint to the NFL's programming.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt underscored the administration's preference, telling reporters: "I think the president would much prefer a Kid Rock performance over Bad Bunny." She added that Trump had "wisely chosen not to make a prediction" on the Super Bowl matchup itself, underscoring how the cultural argument overshadowed the game.
Reaction online was swift and polarized. On X, one user wrote: "This is petty and embarrassing. While Bad Bunny united an entire hemisphere on the world's biggest stage, Donald Trump responded with pointless hate." Another commented, "Such a cry baby. You are the worst president in history." A third post read: "Loved by millions, hated by a few loud voices. Sounds like a successful Super Bowl show to me!"
